Dogs Teach us Mindfulness
By: John D. Moore, PhD
Recently, I penned an article on Psychcentral that explores the concept of learning about mindfulness through dogs. The inspiration for the post came to me after watching dogs interact with one another at Dog Beach, which is a fairly popular gathering spot for canines and their owners along Chicago’s lakefront.
At this place, most people let their dogs runs run around without their leashes on. This affords the pooches the freedom to playfully frolic and chase each other around … you know …. the stuff that dogs do when then socialize with one another.
Games like tag and freeze are two of the favorite activities I have noticed. Oh, unless you count butt-sniffing. That is certainly popular among the fur-children at dog beach.
Anyway, it struck me during my doggie observations that these animals are the ultimate teachers when it comes to mindfulness.
Think about it:
– Dogs live in the moment
– Dogs don’t worry about the future
– Dogs don’t worry about how they look
– Dogs love being with their owners/families
Underneath all of their fur, dogs are really teachers – a kind of canine Zen Master if you will. While they may not verbally talk to us with human words, they certainly do communicate. This communication, however, goes well beyond letting us know about their basic needs, such as a desire to eat or use the bathroom. Instead, dogs tell us how to better live our lives by being in the moment and focused on the here and now.
Dogs and Mindfulness
Learning lessons in mindfulness from your dog is actually pretty easy. The next time you greet your dog after work, let him do his thing in greeting you and then simply sit back and watch. Notice how your dog interacts with you and lets you know what it needs. Pay attention to how happy your dog seems to be in your presence and in return, the joy you receive as part of the experience.
After some time passes, observe how your dog’s behaviors begin to change. If your fur baby is like most canines, he will likely find a position close to you (if not on top of you) and begin to relax. During this chillaxing period, your dog is essentially in Xanadu (which I call Xana-Dog!)
He arrived at this magical place because he was able to experience the moment with you, free of worry or anxiety about the future. You see, your dog only knows the present – a present in which you are there and he feels loved.
You can’t get more mindful than that!
I know many people feel a spiritual connection with their dogs. I certainly felt this special bond with a dog I had several years ago who has since passed. I’ve even had some folks share with me that their dog is really a kind of animal spirit guide. I never question these canine human/relationships because who am I to say what may exists between two living creatures?
Summary
There is no question about it … dogs are teachers of mindfulness in a major way. I hope this post helped you to think a bit more about the concept of mindful living.
The ability to live in the present is no easy task. Speaking for myself, I find dogs to be the perfect teachers in helping me on my quest to stay in the here and now.
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